Actuator device

Abstract

A door lock actuator device comprises a casing having a common mount for securing the casing to either one of right-handed door and left-handed door of an automotive vehicle. A cover element closes a side opening of the casing, and a motor is accommodated within the casing. A motion conversion means has input shaft connected to the motor, and serves to convert a rotary output motion of the motor into a rocking motion. The output shaft of the device has opposite end regions extending through, and protruding outwardly from the casing and the cover element, respectively, and a swing arm is connected to either one of the end regions of the output shaft. Standardized components are used to realize actuator device for right-handed doors and left-handed doors, to lower the manufacturing cost of the device and simplify the parts stock control.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An actuator device comprising: a casing to be secured to a door, said casing having an inside space and a side opening on one side thereof;   a cover element for closing the side opening of the casing;   a reversible motor accommodated within the inside space of the casing;   a motion conversion means for converting a rotary output motion of the motor into a rocking motion, said motion conversion means having an input shaft connected to the motor, and an output shaft;   a swing arm connected to the output shaft of the motion conversion means so that the rotary output motion of the motor causes the swing arm to undergo a rocking motion, said swing arm being adapted to be connected to an element to be actuated by the actuator device and associated with the door;   said casing having a common mount with which the casing can be secured to a selected one of a right-handed door and a left-handed door;   said output shaft of the motion conversion means having opposite end regions which extend through, and protrude outwardly from said casing and said cover element, respectively, said swing arm being connected to a selected one of the opposite end regions of said output shaft of the motion conversion means; and   a cap element for covering another one of the opposite end regions of the output shaft of the conversion means, which is free from said swing arm.   
     
     
       2. A door lock actuator for use in an electric door lock system with a door-lock mechanism of a vehicle with right-handed and left-handed doors, each having an identical bracket to which the actuator is to be secured comprising: a casing having a common mounting means for securement to one of said brackets and being provided with an inside space, a side opening on one side thereof and a first bore passing through an opposite side of said casing;   a cover element for closing the side opening of said casing and provided with a second bore disposed opposite the first bore of said casing;   a reversible motor mounted within the inside space of said casing;   a motion conversion means mounted in said casing for converting a rotary output motion of said motor into a rocking motion, said motion conversion means having an input shaft connected to said reversible motor and an output shaft having first and second end portions rotatably journalled by bearing means through said first and second bores of said casing and said cover and extending outwardly beyond said casing and said cover; and   a swing arm that can be connected to either one of the first and second end portions of the output shaft of said motion conversion means, said swing arm being adapted to actuate the door lock mechanism.   
     
     
       3. The door lock actuator of claim 2, said actuator further comprising a cap element for covering another one of the first and second end portions of the output shaft of said motion conversion means.